Akal Takht hands out punishment to Sukhbir Badal, tells him to clean utensils

Sukhbir Singh Badal and other leaders of the previous SAD government during the hearing of ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) case by the Akal Takht, in Amritsar, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Days after Sukhbir Singh Badal tendered his resignation as president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after he was declared ‘tankhaiya’ or guilty of religious misconduct, the highest Sikh temporal seat, Akal Takht, awarded him ‘tankhah’ (punishment) on Monday (December 2, 2024).

Directing the working committee of SAD to accept Mr. Badal’s resignation as the SAD president, Akal Takht asked the working committee to submit a report in this regard in three days, besides constituting a committee for reorganisation of the party within six months.

Along with Mr. Badal, several other Akali Dal leaders, who were part of the SAD-led government between 2007 and 2017, found guilty of religious misconduct, were made to put on plaques around their necks with a note mentioning their confession of sins as the supreme seat equated their mistakes to sins.

Mr. Badal and Sukhdev Dhindsa, the rebel Akali Dal leader, have been asked to perform the duties of a ‘sewadar’, sitting outside the Golden Temple and other Takhts including Kesgarh Sahib, Damdama Sahib, and Darbar Sahib at Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib for one hour each for two days. Also, they have been directed to clean the utensils and shoes of devotees.

The decisions came as part of punishment from five high priests headed by Akal Takht Jathedar (chief priest) Giani Raghbir Singh, who pronounced the punishment in Amritsar at the meeting of Sikh clergies held to address ‘Panthic’ (Sikh community) and SAD-related issues. On August 30, Mr. Badal was declared guilty of religious misconduct for several decisions that hurt the sentiments and interests of the Panth (Sikh community) when the SAD was in power between 2007 and 2017 in Punjab.

The Akal Takht also revoked the title of ‘Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum’ (pride of the Sikh community) bestowed on the late Parkash Singh Badal, the former Punjab Chief Minister. He was bestowed with the title in 2011 for his service towards the Sikh Panth. The late Mr. Badal was the Chief Minister between 2007 and 2017.

Before the pronouncement of punishments, Mr. Sukhbir Badal admitted the mistakes, which included the pardoning granted to Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a 2007 blasphemy case, failure of the then SAD-led government to punish those involved in the sacrilege of ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ at Bargari village in 2015, among others.